Stave-machine



FFICEA WILLIAM TRAPP, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK.

STAVE-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 28,701, dated June 12, 1860.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, IV. TRAPP, of Elmira, in the county of Chemung and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Dressing Staves; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making part of the Vspecification, in which- Figure l represents a side elevation of a stave dressing machine constructed on my improved plan; Fig. 2, a top view 'of the same; Fig. 3, a longitudinal vertical section; Fig. 4 an enlarged view of the two sets of cutters; Fig. 5 a similar view of the annular cutter stock-the cutters being removed; Fig. 6 an enlarged front view of the curved surfaced plane.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of machines for dresingstaves for barrels, casks, &c.; and its nature consists, lst, in a peculiar formation of the annular cutter stock supporting a loose collar armed with a series of cutters for dressing the outer side of the staves; so that the staves are allowed to pass inside of the path of the outer cutters, and with their outer surface in close proximity thereto; 2d, in so operating two sets of revolving cutters-one dressing the outer side and the other the inner side of the staves-that they should act upon the stave conjointly but in opposite directions; whereby the strain eX- erted upon the stave during the cutting becomes counterbalanced or equalized; and the whole of the dressing is accomplished in a much more regular, accurate and perfect manner; 3d, in mounting the shaft of the inner cutters on adjustable bearings, so arranged that the inner set of cutters may be elevated or depressed in a vertical plane; by means of which the machine is rendered available and readily adjustable for the proper dressing of sta-ves of various thicknesses; 4th, in a special combination and arrangement in relation to each other of two beds of peculiarconstruction, so that no portion of the sta-ve, while acted upon by the cutters, is left unsupported; and the same, whatever its thickness may be, eectually prevented from vibrating during its passage between the said beds; 5th, in combining with a stave dressing machine a rocking curved surfaced plane, by means of which the staves, on being dressed properly by the cutters, have their surface smoothed Idown in the direction of the fibers of the wood, at one and the same operation; 6th, in regulating the pressure of the feed rollers by means of a peculiarly arranged adjustable spring lever mechanism; 7th, in the arrangement of a peculiarly constructed spring carriage for guiding the end of the stave to be dressed, between the feed rollers.

To enable others skilled in the art to make, construct and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe it in detail.

In the accompanying drawing the main frame of the machine is represented as consisting of strong parallel beams- (A, A, A2, A5) braced by connecting pieces (B), the whole being supported on legs or stands (C).

On the rear beam (A3) are erected standards (D), the upper ends of which are formed into bearings for the reception of the main shaft which receives a revolving motion, from a prime mover, by means of a belting passing over the main pulley (F On this shaft are mounted also four other pulleys (F, F2, F3, Ft) for communicating motion-to the various cutting, feeding and sawing mechanisms, as hereafter more fully described.

On the rear portion of the two front beams (A and A) is arranged on suitable stands (G), a frame (G) which supports at its inner projecting end the shoulder (c) of a large annular stock on which is mounted a loose collar (I) armed at its inward projecting edge (b) with knives or cutters (K, K) for dressing the outer side of the staves. This annular stock (H) is provided at its lower end with a groove or depression (x) to enable the stave to pass with its outer side close to the path of the cutters (K, K) so as to be properly dressed by them.

The revolving disk (L) which is armed at its outer edge with knives (K, K) for dressing the inner side of the staves, is mounted on a shaft (c) passing within the annular stock (H) and supported on bearings (fZ) arranged on the frame (G). In order to be enabled to dress staves of varior diminution of the space between the paths of the two sets of cutters, through which the stave has to pass. This is effected in this instance, by providing the stands (e) which form the guide way of the bearings (d), with slots at their lower end for the reception of a wedge key (7") by means of which the elevation of the bearings (d) may be regulated as required-which done, the bearings are then stea-died in the desired position by screwing tightly on them the top pieces The two sets of cutters (K, K and K, K) are so mounted as to act in opposite direction, as shown in Fig. t. To the inner set (K, K) motion is communicated by means of belt-ing passing over the driving pulley (F2) and the pulley (F5) mounted for that purpose on the shaft (c) of the disk (L); while the outer set (K, K) receives a revolving motion in the opposite direction by means of a belting passing crosswise over the loose collar (I) and the driving pulley F3 A) convex metallic plate (M), provided at each side with a projecting ridge (7L) so as to leave in the central portion a suiicient free space for the passage of a stave, is made to fit in the grooved space formed at the lower portion of the annular stock (H). This metallic plate or upper bed extends in front so far beyond the annular stock (H) as to be in a line with the outer set of cutters (K, K), while the cutters (K, K) are made to pass flush with it. In front of the cutters and resting upon the inner end of the feed box (N) is arranged another metallic plate (M) of a corresponding but concave shape, which plate is made to extend close to the outer set of cutters (K, K), and constitutes the lower bed. These two beds (M and M), which serve conjointly to support the stave while being cut or dressed by the two sets of cutters, being made to extend with their inner ends to the same vertical plane, no portion of the stave is left unsupported during the dressing by the cutters. Both beds have their surfaces roughened by a series of small longitudinal ribs, for the purpose of preventing lateral vibration of the staves. The set screws (i) passing through the frame (G) serve the purpose of regulating the play of the upper bed (M) so as to allow of more or less room for the passage of staves of various thicknesses.

Beneath the frame (G) is secured another frame (O) which supports at its inner end a convex roller (P) underneath which is arranged a corresponding concave roller (R) mounted on suitable bearings (7c). These two rollers-to which revolving motion in opposite directions is communicated, by their shafts (Z, Z) being made to engage with a suitable pinion gear arranged on the rear of the m`achineserve the purpose of removing or leading the staves to the rear of the Inachine, after the same have been dressed by the cutters.

At the rear end of the frame (G) is arranged a concave plane (Q) -resting on Springs (m), and having its projecting arms or shoulders (n), engaged with the guards (o), but in such a manner as to allow of a slight rocking motion. Immediately over the cutter of the plane is arranged in the frame (5), a convex friction roller (r) corresponding with the feed roller (P), the adjoining portion of the said frame presenting the shape of a smooth convex surface 'made to correspond with theV upper orconvex bed The feeding box (N) is represented as being of a longitudinal form open at top and bottom and mounted in front of the cutters, between the beams (A and A). Between the sides of this box are mounted a number of concave friction rollers serving as a support for the staves to be conveyed to the cutters. At each side of the feed box two standards (T) are arranged at suitable distances apart, in the lower ends of which are formed bearings for the reception of the shafts of the lower or concave feed rollers (R, R); the corresponding upper or convex feed rollers (P, P,) have their shafts mounted in sliding bearing boxes for the reception of which vertical guide ways are formed at the upper end of the standards (T).

The pressure of the upper feed rollers (P, P)'which are provided with a number of small ribs or projections to take a better hold of the pieces of wood to be fed to the cutters-may be regulated by means of the pressure bars (u) so arranged that their curved ends should press upon the sliding bearing boxes (t) of the upper rollers. These pressure bars are secured to uprights (fu) which are made to extend downward under the main frame and are connected at their lower end by means of a bar or friction roller (z) against which rests the arm of an adjustable spring lever mechanismthe pressure of the latter upon the bar (a) being regulated by sliding up or down the gage plate which engages the free end of the upper beam (U) resting on the friction bar (a) and pivoted at y to the frame of the machine, with the lower beam pivoted at one end to the frame of the machine at y, and having at its other end a strong spring (V) pressing against it.

The pulley (F6) which is connected by a belting with the driving pulley (F) serves the purpose of communlcating, by means of a suitable pinion gear, the required revolving motion to all the feeding rollers, as well in front as in rear of the cutters. But as www.

there is nothing novel in this arrangement of the feeding gear, it is not deemed necessary t describe it here in detail.

In front of the feed box is arranged a light metallic platform (W) of a concave shape, provided with a longitudinal slot for the reception of bolts, by means of which the sliding carriage which is arranged on said platform, is secured to the under or guiding plate (X). This plate (X) is made to connect at its projecting end with a coiled spring (j) which is secured at its other end to one of the friction rollers (8) In placing the piece of wood in the feed box this carriage (X) is forced back, but the action of the spring draws the carriage again forward and thus causes it to push the wood between the feed rollers.

To prevent the pieces of wood from jumping out of their proper position in the feed box, the rear side of the carriage is bent inward, as seen in Fig. 3, and the feed box provided with a curved guard plate (Y) in front of the feed rollers, and with guards (Z) at both sides.

On the beam (A) in front of the feed box are mounted two standards (l, l) having bearings at their upper end for` the support of the shaft (2), which is provided with two circular saws (3), arranged at such distance apart as to cut the wood in pieces of the proper length .foi` staves, on a revolving motion being communicated to the shaft (2) from the driving pulley (F4) by means of a belting passing over the small pulley (F7) arranged for that purpose on the shaft (2).

The shaft (2) is made to pass through large circular openings formed at the upper end of two brackets (4) which are made to slide up and down in vertical guide ways and are connected at their lower end by a bar (6) on which is erected a standard (7) passing through a guard plate (S) which extends from the frame of the machine. Over this plate (8) is coiled around the standard (7), a spring (9) resting upon the plate (8) and secured at its other end to the top of the movable standard (7). The brackets (4) which by this arrangement are made to yield as required, serve as proper supports for the wood to be fed to the revolving saws (3), their upper ends being for that purpose formed into suitable bearings for the reception of the wood.

From the foregoing description the operation of the machine may be readily understood. The staves sawed into proper form by other machinery ready to be dressed, but not as yet cut into pieces of the desired length, are first placed over the yielding bearings and sawed into pieces of the desired length, when they are immediately placed into the adjoining feeding box. A

great economy of time and labor is thus eected, there being only one person required for sawing the wood and feeding it to the cutters, and no time wasted in handling the pieces. l

The saws may be so arranged as to be adjustable, for the purpose of enabling pieces of different length to be sawed.

A stave on being placed in the feeding box, is pressed constantly forward by the sliding spring carriage; so that after the rear end of the preceeding stave has been carried between the rollers, it (the reserve piece) is immediately pushed forward between the rollers. Previously however to allowing staves to pass between these feed rollers, the pressure of the upper rollers has to be regulated, by adjusting properly the gage plate of the spring lever, 1n view of the quality of the wood and thickness of staves to be dressed. The stave while between the revolving cutters is acted upon simultaneously on its outer and inner surface, but in different direction.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The annular cutter stock (H) as constructed, for enabling the staves to pass close to the path of the outer revolving cutters, in the manner substantially as described.

2. So arranging the operating the two sets of revolving cutters (K and K) that they will act simultaneously but in opposite directions, in the manner substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The manner of adjusting the two sets of revolving cutters (K and K) so as to dress properly staves of various thicknesses, by raising or depressing the disk (L) of the inner cutters (K) in the. manner substantially as specified.

4. The arrangement in relation to each other of the two beds (M and M) as constructed, for the purposes set forth.

5. In combination with a stave dressing machine, I claim the rocking plane (Q) as constructed and arranged for the purposes described.

6. The adjustable spring lever (U, U) as arranged, for regulating the pressure of the feeding rollers in the manner substantially as set forth.

7. In combination with the feed box (N) I claim the sliding spring carriage as constructed and arranged for the purposes set forth.

In -testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. WILLIAM TRAPP.

In the presence of CHAS. EVERETT, W. CUPFIELD. 

